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Final score: Missouri State 55 Bradley 37

The biggest concern I have is the lack of urgency and getting out hustled and the old pattern of being too individualistic on offense. 5 assists on 16 FG's is a joke as is being 3-10 from the FT line. Really thought that the guys finally figured out what was going on, how they needed to play in order to be successful but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Another concern was DB who just seemed really disengaged in this game. Can't win if he's not scoring but we just don't do enough to set him up to score. The day we set a good solid screen will be the first day and that's been a problem here for a long time. AAAAARRRGGH!
 
Today's game was about effort and execution and we had none in the first half and not enough of it in the 2nd half. After the last 2 games you would have thought that the guys had gotten the message but they seemed to have forgotten it on the bus ride to Springfield. DB just looked disinterested and, unless he was under the weather, has to be engaged or it just drags everybody else down. Didn't help that Eli got 2 quick fouls and sat the bench most of the 1st half and any movement on offense stopped happening. We went 11 1/2 minutes without a FG. JUST. CAN'T. HAPPEN. Who does this team want to be? The time to figure that out is running out. .

I think the team flew.

But maybe that's what they need.... a bus ride.... instead of flying.

Play poorly - travel poorly.

Not gonna waste the effort and energy to execute and compete.... don't waste money paying for traveling by air.
 
I disagree. Where is that part of the definition of a Flagrant Foul?
What Kennell does not fit the actual NCAA definition of a Flagrant 1 foul. Here is the definition:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagrant_foul#NCAA

The Flagrant 1 Foul, which is what was called (Flagrant 2 includes ejection, which was obviously not the case), is defined as:
  • A flagrant 1 foul (men's) or unsportsmanlike foul (women's) involves excessive or severe contact during a live ball, including especially when a player "swings an elbow and makes illegal, non-excessive contact with an opponent above the shoulders". This offense includes the former "intentional foul" of fouling an opposing player to prevent an easy breakaway score. In women's basketball only, the unsportsmanlike foul also includes contact dead-ball technical fouls. The penalty for a flagrant 1 or unsportsmanlike foul is two free throws and a throw-in for the opposing team at the out-of-bounds spot nearest the foul.
There is no way what Kennell fits that definition, IMO. It was not "excessive or severe contact" intended to injure. It was not an elbow foul. It was not directed above the shoulders, and it was not an "intentional foul to prevent a breakaway". It shouldn't have been reviewed, and should have been a simple foul at most, not a Flagrant. It is no different than the hip or leg move made by players setting a screen that gets called a simple foul all the time.

I agree!! Sometimes I think the referees feel they have all this power and can call whatever they want without answering to anyone ( similar to a lot of politicians). They need to go to referee school to be reminded they are there just to enforce the rules. They come with the attitude " Don't question my calls, don't say nothing. Don't even look at me crosseyed. Ask Dan Muller about that. I was at a game where the coaches yelled at one of their players for shooting an ill-advised shot and the referee with his back to them called a technical foul thinking they were yelling at him.
 
I was at a game where the coaches yelled at one of their players for shooting an ill-advised shot and the referee with his back to them called a technical foul thinking they were yelling at him.

Some Bradley fans might remember when this happened to Jim Les. He yelled at Will Egolf after he made a bad play, and a ref (it might have been Eric Harmon) turned and immediately called a technical foul on Les. Even after realizing Les was not yelling at him, the ref wouldn't admit his mistake.
 
MORE OF THE SAME! The beat goes on and our feckless coaches have no idea how to handle it. Several weeks ago Brian W. asked for questions from fans and subsequently asked for more questions. He answered a couple of the "softball" questions but never touched the really tough ones. So, here are some questions which are begging for comment and answers....Lets see if the coach can deal openly with these:
1. Why don't we play Ari B., J. Henry, and j. Hodgson more in the guts of the game instead of plugging them in near the end where they really can't help and the game is already lost?
2. What is really going on with Ari? Is he still injured or are there other issues between he and the coaches? you need to openly communicate better with fans before you lose them.
3. We seem to have a reltively strong inside defense (especially with Barr, Ari, and Elijah), Given this, why can't we tighten up our very loose perimeter defense and closely contest opponent 3 point shots?
4. Why can't we develop some offensive sets & plays designed to free up D. Brown and isolate him for more open shots.?
5. Our passing is still terrible, weak, loose, and often with little purpose. Why do you allow long/loopy cross court passes on offense in the half court . These passes are clear turnover risks and don't really add much to our offense.
6. I rarely see our kids dive for loose balls or otherwise play with high energy. We still seem to play lazy, tired, and with not much energy or fire-in-the-belly. WHY?
7. Your post-game shows are awful. You don't really discuss the guts of the game, X and Os, or anything about our offense or what we are trying to get done. Also, no player
interviews.
Wizard
 
MORE OF THE SAME! The beat goes on and our feckless coaches have no idea how to handle it. Several weeks ago Brian W. asked for questions from fans and subsequently asked for more questions. He answered a couple of the "softball" questions but never touched the really tough ones. So, here are some questions which are begging for comment and answers....Lets see if the coach can deal openly with these:
1. Why don't we play Ari B., J. Henry, and j. Hodgson more in the guts of the game instead of plugging them in near the end where they really can't help and the game is already lost?
2. What is really going on with Ari? Is he still injured or are there other issues between he and the coaches? you need to openly communicate better with fans before you lose them.
3. We seem to have a reltively strong inside defense (especially with Barr, Ari, and Elijah), Given this, why can't we tighten up our very loose perimeter defense and closely contest opponent 3 point shots?
4. Why can't we develop some offensive sets & plays designed to free up D. Brown and isolate him for more open shots.?
5. Our passing is still terrible, weak, loose, and often with little purpose. Why do you allow long/loopy cross court passes on offense in the half court . These passes are clear turnover risks and don't really add much to our offense.
6. I rarely see our kids dive for loose balls or otherwise play with high energy. We still seem to play lazy, tired, and with not much energy or fire-in-the-belly. WHY?
7. Your post-game shows are awful. You don't really discuss the guts of the game, X and Os, or anything about our offense or what we are trying to get done. Also, no player
interviews.
Wizard

Thank you Wizard - I appreciate anyone making suggestions regarding ways to improve.... FYI - I added your comment to the topic titled: " Definition of INSANITY: Doing the SAME THING over and over and EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS".... Because I was attempting to create a pool of new suggestions regarding what can be done - not necessarily with the remainder of this season - but what can truly be done to give this team some new type of guidance for the 2019-2020 season. Thank you.
 
MORE OF THE SAME! The beat goes on and our feckless coaches have no idea how to handle it. Several weeks ago Brian W. asked for questions from fans and subsequently asked for more questions. He answered a couple of the "softball" questions but never touched the really tough ones. So, here are some questions which are begging for comment and answers....Lets see if the coach can deal openly with these:
1. Why don't we play Ari B., J. Henry, and j. Hodgson more in the guts of the game instead of plugging them in near the end where they really can't help and the game is already lost?
2. What is really going on with Ari? Is he still injured or are there other issues between he and the coaches? you need to openly communicate better with fans before you lose them.
3. We seem to have a reltively strong inside defense (especially with Barr, Ari, and Elijah), Given this, why can't we tighten up our very loose perimeter defense and closely contest opponent 3 point shots?
4. Why can't we develop some offensive sets & plays designed to free up D. Brown and isolate him for more open shots.?
5. Our passing is still terrible, weak, loose, and often with little purpose. Why do you allow long/loopy cross court passes on offense in the half court . These passes are clear turnover risks and don't really add much to our offense.
6. I rarely see our kids dive for loose balls or otherwise play with high energy. We still seem to play lazy, tired, and with not much energy or fire-in-the-belly. WHY?
7. Your post-game shows are awful. You don't really discuss the guts of the game, X and Os, or anything about our offense or what we are trying to get done. Also, no player
interviews.
Wizard

To me it appears Wardle is lost with this program and is searching for any answer he can find. We only have two players that are consistent offensively. It’s a crap shoot who plays or starts from game to game. I was expecting much more this season, especially after the time they had together this past summer in Europe. In year four of a rebuild, we are still struggling and looking for people to step up. It is obvious, we don’t have people to step up and that falls on the coach. Other schools in the league have hired coaches since we did and so far this season, they have passed us. Look at the teams that beat us during the non-con season and many of them are getting pasted as they are in league play. You are correct about the post game shows. They are filled with softball questions and he acts as if it’s the last place he wants to be. I have no reason to believe that after four years and with four years remaining on his contract, that it will get much better.
 
Really can't think of where to start except that I wasted 1 hour of my time watching the replay.
Very very tough to watch as a fan.

Just very poor execution.

DB had maybe his worst game as a Brave.

What can I say?
The line went from Mo St. - 5 to -7.5 over a few hours. Vegas knew something...I guess the Bears have Bradley totally figured out this season.
They are NOT a great team, but look like All-stars against us.

Unacceptable performance!!!
 
And what the heck happened with Hodgson???

He is one of our best 5 players. Is he sick???
What's the deal?

Lundy has upped his game a bit over last 3 games, but he should have been taken out halfway through the 1st half and only play maybe 2 minutes more...he was bad.
 
more of the same is right...
I have been bummed about those silly, unforced turnovers and missed point blank shots for couple years - but it is absolutely killing us now...
 
Bradley’s big goal for the season now has to be...get out of the MVC Tournament play-in round. Next to impossible though. If they do it will because of a tie breaker. Pathetic.
 
And what the heck happened with Hodgson???

He is one of our best 5 players. Is he sick???
What's the deal?

Lundy has upped his game a bit over last 3 games, but he should have been taken out halfway through the 1st half and only play maybe 2 minutes more...he was bad.

When did he become one of our best players??? He doesn't shoot and has way to many weak passes, the very thing that was just complained about. We had a 14 point lead the 1st time we played MSU when he cam into the game and everything slowed down and he turned the ball over 3 straight trips down the floor and the Bears took off after that. I for one am very happy to see him on the bench until he can handle the ball and starts to shoot. LL has given some life to the offense until, apparently, Saturday as I didn't see any of that game.
 
basketball nut I would enjoy seeing you on the floor, maybe even being defended by Hodgson. Instead of tearing down these young men, why don't we build them up?

Its tough to see this bad of a drop of but it's what happens when 1 game is made such a huge deal and then there is a fall off like this.
 
when they guys really focused on ISU as the opponent, they played well - but I think the bad stretch has them now seeing the crowd & the coverage as the opponent -
We are not out of this yet - we are two games out of 5th place and 3 games out of 2nd place!
 
I suspect we won’t be seeing much of Jayden or Pittman. Maybe I’m wrong . We have waited long enough. I can only go off games because I can’t get into practice . Which I understand. Invest in Henry and Brummet. I want Henry starting over DLO. DLO Bar Nate Brum off the bench. Other than foul trouble or gassed Childs Brown Henry Luk shouldn’t come out. Play Boya unless he is hurt. Give him 2 5 min stretchs. One a half. 1300 min timeframe enter.His head has to be right tho. He’s going to look terrible certain times but will be a decent MVC big. Super high ceiling. Think about Bars freshman yr. The patience we show and dumb plays we deal with now will pay off year 3 and most year 4. Keep him positive. It’s not about where we are. It’s about where we are going.
 
NOT SAYING we can draw certain conclusions but.....
the last couple years we saw that the players who were not playing much at all down the stretch run...
were also the players who were no longer here at the end of the season (Joel Okafor, Davante Cooper, Scottie James, Ronnie Suggs, Alex Foster, Stipo, Jojo, Callum Barker)
 
when they guys really focused on ISU as the opponent, they played well - but I think the bad stretch has them now seeing the crowd & the coverage as the opponent -
We are not out of this yet - we are two games out of 5th place and 3 games out of 2nd place!

If these guys see the crowd and coverage as the opponent, they have real problems. The Valley does not have a “really” good team. ISU is not that good of a team. Bradley played well against them. It is also not out of the realm of possibility for us to go to ISU and get pasted. For us to get out of the play-in game,we are going to have to win a heck of a lot more than we lose and the teams ahead of us are going to have to lose a lot more than they win. I look for the bottom five teams in the league to maybe go .500 the rest of the season have a tie breaker determine the play-in.
 
For BU to avoid the play in game we'll probably need to go at worst 6-4 to finish at 8-10. Since the 2010-11 season 5 of the 8 seasons the 6th place team had at least 10 loses in the MO Valley. The other 3 years it was 9-9. So can we do it? It's possible but not if we don't play with any sense of urgency. We have 5 home games, (SIU, ISU Blue, Loyola, Evansville and Valpo), and 5 road games (Evansville, UNI, ISU Red, Drake and Loyola). If we play like we're capable of playing we can go 8-2. If not we can go 2-8. But with the topsy turvy way that the Valley has been this season who the heck knows what will happen. All we can control is how we play and Evansville is up next. Get er done boys!
 
For BU to avoid the play in game we'll probably need to go at worst 6-4 to finish at 8-10. Since the 2010-11 season 5 of the 8 seasons the 6th place team had at least 10 loses in the MO Valley. The other 3 years it was 9-9. So can we do it? It's possible but not if we don't play with any sense of urgency. We have 5 home games, (SIU, ISU Blue, Loyola, Evansville and Valpo), and 5 road games (Evansville, UNI, ISU Red, Drake and Loyola). If we play like we're capable of playing we can go 8-2. If not we can go 2-8. But with the topsy turvy way that the Valley has been this season who the heck knows what will happen. All we can control is how we play and Evansville is up next. Get er done boys!

For us to get out of the play-in game going 6-4 the rest of the way, at least four of the teams immediately ahead of us in the standings would have to go 3-6 the rest of the season. I don’t see how that can happen since those teams still have games against each other. When those teams play each other all it does for us is to make us win one more game. Essentially we can’t lose any more games against Evansville, SIU, ISU-B, UNI and probably even MO ST.. We’’ve dug ourselves a really deep hole to get out of, this early in the season. The numbers and inconsistencies of this team don’t bode well for us.
 
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